Arkansas Tech University will begin a basketball road trip through the Sooner State when it faces Oklahoma Baptist University for a twin bill in Shawnee on Thursday, Dec. 1.
The Golden Suns and the Wonder Boys will remain in Oklahoma for a doubleheader against Southern Nazarene University in Bethany on Saturday, Dec. 3. Game times at SNU will be 1 and 3 p.m.
Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (4-1, 1-1 GAC) at OBU Lady Bison (3-4, 0-2 GAC)
When: Thursday, Dec. 1, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Noble Complex, Shawnee, Okla.
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: Tech leads 3-2
About the Golden Suns: Arkansas Tech, which was 10-1 in GAC games away from home last season, will be playing its first road conference game of the 2016-17 season. The Golden Suns defeated Oklahoma Baptist 106-76 in Shawnee last season behind 17 points from Anissa Pounds and 16 points from Kelsey McClure. Now seniors, McClure (15.0 points per game) and Pounds (10.8 points per game) are Tech’s top scorers this season.
About the Lady Bison: Oklahoma Baptist is on a three-game winning streak, including a 102-39 victory over Manhattan Christian College on Monday. Junior forward Tasha Edge is the top scorer (14.7 points per game) and rebounder (9.0 rebounds per game) for the Lady Bison. Edge had 17 points and 12 rebounds against Arkansas Tech when the two sides met in Shawnee last season.
Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys (3-0, 2-0 GAC) at OBU Bison (1-3, 0-2 GAC)
When: Thursday, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Noble Complex, Shawnee, Okla.
Radio/Internet: KCJC 102.3 FM/www.arkansastechsports.com
Series: OBU leads 4-2
About the Wonder Boys: Arkansas Tech leads the GAC in scoring offense (90.7 points per game), turnover margin (+9.33 per game) and 3-point field goals made (11.3 per game). Senior forward Branden Williams is No. 1 in the conference in rebounds (10.3 per game), while senior guard Justin Graham (2nd, 5.7 assists per game) and sophomore guard Freddy Lee (6th, 4.3 assists per game) are among the GAC’s top distributors of the basketball.
About the Bison: Senior guard Kevin Franceschi leads Oklahoma Baptist and ranks second in the conference in scoring at 19 points per game. The Bison are shooting 30.2 percent from 3-point range, which ranks them last in that category among the 12 GAC members. Oklahoma Baptist has been idle from regular season action since it ended a three-game losing streak by defeating Manhattan Christian College 113-80 on Nov. 21.
